Multiple band turret-type tuning system



Sept' 23 1952 A. G. LAzzERY MULTIPLE BAND TURRET-TYPE TUNING SYSTEM 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed June 30, 1949 Sept. 23, 1952 A. G. LAzzERY MULTIPLE BAND TURRET-TYPE TUNING SYSTEM Filed June 50, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR Engeln E Lagjem] A'TTORNEY AIMA. vvvvvv Patented Sept. 23, 1952 MULTIPLE BAND TURRET-TYPE TUNING SYSTEM Angelo G. Lazzery, Oaklyn, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application June 30, 1949, Serial No. 102,367

(Cl. 175-293)v g 24 Claims.

, 1 Y r rIhis invention relates to multiple band turret type tuning systems and the like, and more particularly to improved shielding and mounting structure therefor.

In a copending patent application for improvements in Band Changing Systems for High Frequency kSignal Tuners and the Like, Serial No. 101,965, filed June 29, 1949, in the name of D. Mackey and assigned to the assignee of the present application, there is described a preferred form of signal tuner in which the present invention is incorporated. In this copending application the preferred tuner has a series of segments, each carrying selective circuit elements for one signal frequency band or channel, applied to a drum structure rotatably mounted with respect to a central axis to selectably switch the circuit elements on any ofthe segments into a signal transfer circuit and effect selection of desired signals. In that copending application the circuit elements are printed on the segments.

In the above type of tuning systems, the circuit elements are of `necessity closely spaced to provide relatively short lead connection for suitable operation at the high frequencies involved. This introduces problems of how to conveniently mount the drum segments in compact form and yet sufficiently isolate the elements for proper operation.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a readily detachable mounting and shielding structure for interchangeable groups of circuit elements for such tuners.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of mounting structure for relatively rigidly and accurately holding interchangeable circuit units of a signal transfer system yet permitting the units to be readily attached, `detached and replaced. f

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved electric circuit unit for engagement by `mounting structure which also provides shielding between as' many circuit portions of the unit as is necessary to isolate.' l

The novel features that are considered to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings Where- Figure 1 is a side view of a television tuner embodying features ofthe invention, with parts 2 broken away to more clearly show some of the details;

Figure 2 is an end View, looking from the left of the television tuner of Figure l, with parts broken away forjclarity; n

Figure 3 is a View of a portion of the signalselecting elements ofthe tuner of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a complete tuner circuit in which the system of the invention can be incorporated.

According to the invention, there is provided an electric circuit unit in the form of an integral support holding a plurality of circuit elements and perforated for intertting engagement with a mounting structure.` By making the interitting parts of the mounting structure electrically conductive, these parts will also function to Lelectrically shield oneor more of the circuit elements from the remainder of the circuit. The circuit elements can be inthe form of conductive coating portions held on'the support to further simplify the shielding. y

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3 in which like reference characters designate like parts, a television tuner providing an assembly of detachable and interchangeable selective circuit 'carrying segments and eXemplifying one embodiment of the invention,l vcomprises a box-like housing or chassis element 20 which carries on its upper or top surface 2l certain television input circuit components, including 'a unitary signal input matching network 25, a plurality of electron-discharge tubes 28, 29, an output inductor 3 I, and a plurality of adjustable capacitors 35 and 36. The tubes 28, 29 are provided with suitable shields 32, 33, one of which carries a heavy vibration damping cylindricalk sleeve 39,y

held in place by a snap ring 40 encircling the sleeve 39 and an upright support arm 42. Other circuit elements such as certain inductors 44, A5, a capacitor d6 and a test connection terminal element 4'! are also shown as externally carried on the housing top 2 l Within and partly lprojecting from and below the housing Y2li, a generally cylindricall selector drum or turret 5D is .rotatably held on a. shaft 52 journalled in slots extending up from the lower edges of the front'and'rear housing walls 22, 23. The upper portion of one of these slots is shown at 54 in Figure 2. A retaining plate 4B and retaining Wire spring 58-hold and bias the shaft 52 upwardly against the top end oi the slot 54. The plate 591 has van inwardly projecting ear B anchored in a perforation 5| of Wall 22, and a screw or rivet 63 holds the plate securely against this wall. The shank of the rivet or screw 63 receives a loop 64 formed on one end of spring 58, the other end of the spring being engaged in a notched flange 65 projecting outwardly from the plate 56. The shaft 52 includes an extension having a flat 53 for receiving an operating knob (not shown).

The drum itself is more clearly shown in Figure 3 and includes a pair of thin, at end discs 61, 68 and a plurality of thin, fiat intermediate discs 69, 10, 1l, all being of conducting material, rigidly held on the shaft 52 in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The periphery of end disc 61 is uniformly notched (see Figure 2) to provide spaced indentations or recessed cam surfaces 13 for engagement by a holding detent button carried by a leaf spring 16 suitably secured to the housing. The detent 15 may be of any suitable type such as the round-ended linger or button as shown, or roller means of any well known form, for engaging the cam surfaces and intermediate notches provided on the disc 61.

Distributed circumferentially on equal radii around the discs 61, 68 and adjacent their peripheries, are elongated slots or notches 18, 19 in aligned pairs. Each pair of notches or slots is arranged to receive the corresponding tongued or shouldered ends 88, 89 of individual thin carrier strips or coil supports of insulating material, ve of which are shown at 89,181, 82, 83 and 84.

The intermediate discs, 69, 10 and 1| assist in holding and locking the carrier strips securely in place. Radially projecting peripheral blades 12 integral with discs 19 and 1l are aligned in rows corresponding to the carrier strips as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each of the blades is notched in each edge as indicated at 66 to provide an outer head or locking lug attached to the central or body portion-of the disc, as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The body portion is connected to the blades 12'by a neck 14 at the notches 66, and around this neck the strips are held. Aligned with the disc blades or locking lugs 12, each strip has a transverse passageway orlocking slot 88 wide enough to receive the reduced neck portion 14 between the notches 66 (Figure 2), but not large enough to pass the outer head or locking lug end of the blade. Each strip is perforated by at least one mounting slot having tWo differently dimensioned inter-communicating slot portions comprising a short transverse slot 86 parallel with and opening into a. longer transverse slot or passageway 81 wide enough to pass the lockingspect to the discs 61 and 68, whereby locking to the lugs 12 may be effected, one end of each carrier strip is cut away, to provide shoulders 90, 98 that fall short of spanning the distance between the end discs 61, 68 when the other end 88 is seated in the opposite disc.

With this arrangement, the strips may readily be mounted or removed from the tuner,l and are rigidly held in place when mounted, as is necessary for the band change switching. For mounting a strip, its elongated end or tongue 89 is first inserted in a notch 19 of disc 68, as indicated by the position of strip 84 in Figure 3. The strip is then moved to the right to bring the shoulders 9B, 90 against the right-hand disc 68, thel longer locking slots 81 being thereby positioned to t over the enlarged heads 12 of the spaced supporting discs. The strip is then pivoted about the shoulders 80, 90, to bring the longer slots 81 over the projecting heads 12 of the intermediate discs 10, 1I and against the outer seating edges of discs 10, 1| as well as the periphery of disc 69. The strip 83 is shown in this position. Finally the strip is urged to the left, as seen in Figure 3, to bring the tongue or shouldered end 88 into a notch or slot 18, thereby moving the shorter locking passageways or slots 86 into the notches 56 and around the *reduced*r necks 14, thus locking under the heads 1.2.`, Spring arms 91 (Figure 1) externally carried by the end disc A68, are provided, one for each removable unitary strip or segment, in engagement with the tongues 89, whereby the strips are biased to and held in Athe locked position, to the left, as shown for strips -82 inclusive.

To remove a strip it is rst moved to the right against the resistance of spring arm 91, to the position inwhich strip 83 is shown in Figure 3, to disengage end 88 from its slot 13 and align longer passageways 81, 81 with the heads 12, 12; the end 88 then tilted out about shoulders 9D, 90 as shown by strip 84; and the stripend 89 is then withdrawn from notch 19. c

The separate strips each carry one or more portions of a selective signal circuit, for selecting signals in a Y particular frequency band or channel. The' circuit portions, comprising `tuning and like inductor elements, shown on strip 82 for example, are in the'form of suitably shaped ilat conductors provided by a conductive stratum on the-non-conductive surface of' the strip. Referring by way of example, tof the circuit elements carried by the strip 82, these include an input-tuning inductance- 9i, a coupling inductance T-network including 4branches 92, 93; and stein 94, and anoscillator tuning inductance. 95, The stripsv also carry a set ofr terminal contacts IUI-l lltol which-the ends oftheindividual inductances are; connected asshown'. OnA some of the strips, as lshown for example, on strip183f, the coupling T-network may; omit. one or more of the T-elements such as itsstern. 94, other por.- tions of the circuit supplying the omitted structure. In this event the remaining elements. are connected to a contact as shown atA IM; on the strip 83 for example. The contacts project. radially outwardly from the outer surface of the` strip, for switchingconnection with external circuits, as more clearly illustrated in Figures 2 andi 4, and also providev convenient means by which, the strip may be grasped and moved for mounting and demounting purposes.

Forisome frequencies an inductor may merely be a relatively short lengthof straight conductor, as shown by the oscillator inductanceelement orl inductor of strip 83', which-issuitabl'e for the standard television channel number 13. At other frequencies the inductive coating or stratum may be quite extended. as shown by theinductors of` strip 84 whichis highlyeilective with the stand-`V ard television channel number 2.

For selecting` signals, from a` specific .television channel, the drum.50'is.rotatedi so as to bringV the circuit elementsv of a selected one of the stripsinto operative connection with: the remainder of the television signal-receiving systern. vInFigure 1 this .connectionJ is provided by a setqof fixed contacts lll-H8.- inclusiveiheldon, the housing 50 forV cooperationwithz contacts of.' a strip at a suitable vpoint in the rotation path of the drum. A.sshown, the contacts lil l: to. LIB-i inclusive are xed to a non-conductive termi;-A nal board held on'an angularly shaped side; wall plate or bracket 24` of the housing. Theplate 24 is secured to the remainder of the housing 28 by ears .26"fas`tened.tothev endwalls, 22,

aan-8.07

23 as by screwstl, and additional ears 31 interlockingly engaging suitably shaped ntches`38 in these end walls .L A cover plate 34 may be provided to cover the terminal board |20, and may be secured to the housinglas by an ear4| bent to overlie the end wall 22 and fastened by screw 48. An opening 43 in ear 4| providesl clearance for the screw 21. Themovablecontacts |0| to |08 are the form of rivets which penetrate the body of'the strip and vhave la head with a generally convex outer surface projecting out from the conductivecircuit portion. The rivets may be solidr or hol-y low and can be applied in any desired fashion.. The stationary` contacts |||f| I8 inclusive are each in the general shape of an elongated closed. loop, as shown by the contact ||8 in Figure 2 and-present a contact portion extending substantially along ,the travel path of a contact rivet in each tuning. segment. For each movable con` tact-on a segment, one contact is provided and is made somewhatjresilient for suitable wiping engagement between the contacts.

The specic, features of `the contacts donot form any part of the-present invention and areI included in the copending patent application for 6 balanced output; In addition to the above, an uribalanclwlv 3.00 Ohm inputline .may be 00nnected to .terminals .291,:204Ji11p1a0e 0f the balanced .input assemblyxzland. thereby .also

.deliver an unbalancedV 300 ohm output to leads |46, |41. The transformer input isacc'ordingly suitablefor use with any of the conventional standard signalsupply line s. Asshowm lead |41 is grounded and a fixed high-pass lter, including inductances |53, 44,

45 and capacitances |6| and |62, is connected improvements` in Electrical Switch Contact Arrangements,` Serial No. 101,966, filed on Aor about June 29, 1949, in the name of D., Mackey. For the purposes ,of the present invention, any suitable form of contacts can be utilized.

inthe elevator transformer output circuit; This filter combination, part of which may be included Within the casing 25, is arranged to have a low frequency cut-off which permits passage of sigf nals having the lowest desired'frequency. For improving the selection,. the high pass filter may be Iarranged toprovide a particularly high attenuation for undesired signals of a specific fre quency below the nominal c ut-o limit, for ex'r ample intermediate frequency 4signals radiated from other similar receivers o r signal transmitters, as by parallel tuning inductances |58 and 44y to this frequency with their respective capacitances |51, |62..v This makes a highly effective arrangement for suppressing interference by undesired signals.

The outputleads fronrthehigh-pass filter are |41. and WS., and a selectable low-pass filter, includinginductance 9| andcapacitancesfit itt,

' |61, connects these leads |41, |48 to the input For delivery ofthe received signals selected` by .thetunen aset of contact lugs |30 may be mounted -to .projectfrom a wall of the housing, asv shown in Figure 2. The desired circuits for' further amplifying the selectedsignals are con-V nected to theselugs. Someof the lugs may be used to supply operating energy vto the tuner, asfor example, to heat the tube cathodes and prov vide the energizing potentials to the tube elec trodes. y

Figure 4, is a` circuit diagram of. a television,

` tuner circuit highly suited :or the tuner of Fig ure 1. Terminals20|,2 02,.203, 204 provide in put signal supply connections to a so-called ele-. vatorfinput transformer consisting of four in-y ductances I5I, |52, |53, |54 heldin casing 25' and having output leads |46, |41. Inductances |5| and |52 mayl b e in the form of closely cou-` pled bilar windings spaced from the other inductances |53, |54 which may also Abe closely'l coupled bifilar windings. By providing such in electrodes; of tube 28. Strayy Wiring capacitance and the inputl capacitanceinherent in tube '28 are taken into account in the filters. lInductance 9| is sele ctably switched, for theV different signal channels, as indicated by the contacts |0I, j and |02, |2. The individual inductances 9| lare .of such characteristics ras to tune the circuit to lpass the,` desired signals but block passage of those at higher frequency.

Tube 2.8.` is .connected in a more-or-less con'- v entionaly ampliiicationcircuit its amplified outductance pairs each equivalent to a ytransmis- A sion `line of 150 ohrnimpedance, a standard 300i ohm balanced line, such as is conventionallyused rfor antenna leads, may be connected tosup ply signals to terminals 20| and 204, terminals.

202 and 203 being joined. Such a connection is; schematically representedv by the .assembly 12 0.. -Unbalanced 3DO-ohm output connections may then be directly matched to output leads |46, |41` of the transformer, that is, one of these output;y

leads may be grounded as shown.A

However. by uniting terminal 20| with termi@- nal 203, and uniting terminal `202vvith termi-- nal 204, a pair of'input connections are madefl available for directly receiving signals from a standard 75 ohm coaxial or unbalanced transmission line, `and-also delivering 300 ohm uri-- put being developed between output lead |10 and the common return conductor |50, across branch V92 .andy stem 04 of the inductive T-network 92, 03, 94. This T-network functions vto pass a selected band of frequencies to the next stage. One or m ore capacitors 36 may be arranged fonconnectionin series With'the coupling stern 9.4, andy can 1 be adjusted to series tune the .coupling-stem `to any frequencies which it is desiredfnot to be ytransferred bythe T-network. Thus for example, by tuningthe stem 94 vtoseries resonate at aboutV the heterodyne image freguency where undesired signalsmay beat with the oscillations supplied to. a .later stage and therebyibe'passed to the vtuner output to interferewith the desired signals, such interference may be sharply reduced. Where signals at widely.differentfrequencies are to be received, as in thestandard type television systems covering the range of from about megacycles per second to over 200 megacycles per*y second, it is sometimes preferred to use more than one tuning capacitance to increase the effectiveness -of image .rejection vover the entire theidesred band-pass characteristics. In Figure e'two tuning capacitors 3.6, 36 are shown, one to balanced signals at output leads` |46, |41.v This connection vis schematically represented by the= assembly 2| Furthermore, if the vinput ter-vv mlnals are not grounded, Va balanced ohnr line can be connected in place of the unbalanced.f

15 ohm line, and the transformer than -also provides impedance matching to a 300 Vohm fun-r tune thestem 94 .at the highertelevision frequencies and the other to jtuneit at the low frequencies.. Dash lineconnection- .09 may be substituted for,- or. added to the stemlead |0| in the lowfrequency channels, the vfull line connection alone'being used in the high frequency channels. .I Y I .i

einen? As shown at |03,Y IDM-|65 and |06, the elements- 92, 93, 94 'o f the-T-network are switched forV the different individual frequency channels, and are provided on dierent channel strips 80, 8|, 82, etc. The cooperating xed contacts are shown at I |3, H4, and H6. The omission of lead 99 and its contact |06 from some of the channel strips would mean that the cooperating xed contact |l6 would be free to vibrate, if of. the resilient looped construction shown in Figure 2. This vibration is prevented by providing a dummy contact |06 on each strip not using connection 99. In this manner the contact HS is always kept under mechanical bias when signals are received and any tendency for microphonic operation, `by reason of the electrical variationresulting from contact vibration combined with subsequent ampliiication, is avoided. For the saine purpose, a corresponding dummy contact |04 may be provided when only one of the capacitors 36 is used at low frequencies.

For improving the signal transfer and image attenuating characteristics of the Tnetwork, the branches 92 and 93 are shielded from each other so as to restrict the-transfer of any electric waves except by way of the inductance 94 which is common to both the input and output branches of the coupling network. The shielding is shown at |12 in Figure 4 andis provided by the projecting heads 'I2 of intermediate disc 10; The heads l2 accordingly function both as readily detachable interlocking strip mounting structure, and Aat the Sametime contribute shielding-wherever desired. il

Another shield, shown in Figure ILas a grounded conductor ITL-helps to isolate inductorf9|ffrom the nearby portions of the mixer or heterodyne circuit. Y This shieldis similarly provided-by the projecting intertting headsl2y of intermediateV disc in Figure 3. No shieldingfisjneeded between inductors 93 and 95 2in` the segment strips 8. providing any necessary compensation for variationsinthe inductance ofthe remainder of the frequency-determining circuit. f The mixer' c'utfm't,whichi'is,v developed in tuner output circuit between mixerfoutput lead' |82 andA ground, includes hetrodynesor beat signals corresponding to the'sum's and' differences or the incoming signal frequencyfand the oscillation frequency aswell as of multiples' of each of these frequencies.' "The desired beat signals are selected by' suitable; tuned elements' connected in this output circuit. v 4'In the formshown inFigureV 4 a seriesres'onant lcombination.of inductance" |85* and |86- is' 1tuned toselectively pass the video or picture signal portion of the-selectedbeat' Waves, while-aparallel-resonant combinationl of induc-v tance 3| and capacitance Blisftuned` to present a relatively-'high impedance tol the sound signal portion oftliese -beat wavesfJ -1A-le`ad-1|9|l from the sound circuitsupplies the soundzsi'gnals-to -thesubsequent'st'ageswhere they arefurther ampli-- fied,v dernodulated-` 'andV reprodu'cdin any desired manner. The picturesignals'farealso Jfurther amplied, demodulated, 'andireprod'ucedl 'To irriprove'y theuniformity-offresponse by' the tunertoall the#l televisionA channels, aseriesresonantcircuit' |81?- |88 fis 'tuned to a frequency intermediate the high 'and low frequency chan-4 nels. This has fthe? effectv ofy reliecting into l the f input circuit of triode 29|- a positive resistancel for signals in the lowchannels,=anda-negative resistance (some regeneration), for signals' ini-the of the turret 50 inasmuch las thesig'rials carried by these inductors are intended to bemixe'd in the tube section 29| to provide the desired heterocly'lnel action. If additional shielding isneeded, however, as for example where other types of circuits are used, another -set`of inter-tting heads 12 and mounting slots 86; 81, is readily provided.

The coupling inductance 96 is preferablyorily a small fraction of the branch inductarices'92, 93, and thereby provides the desired lowfcoefiicient of coupling. With increasing signall frequencies, inductances 92, 93 and 94 each become Vsmaller until at the highest frequencies the coupling stem S4 may be so small as to be provided by the length of conductor between the junction of .branches 92, 93 and the associated capacitor 36. This branch construction is shown on strip 83 in Eigmines the frequency of the mixer voscillations;

Other capacitors-may be connected in this resonant circuit' as shown, to Vaccurately adjus'tthe resonantfrequency of the frequency-determining circuit.` L f A single adjustable inductance |96 is shownlas .The .two tube sections .may

highjlchannels. The' 'normal'fvariationlinlresistivei loading applied by the {tube-ll to theA incomingsignals is ltherebyl compensated* Such use ofi` re'- iiecting elementsinthe outputl-c'ircuit of anamplierl-is explained in'SylvaniaEngineeringy News Letter-,1' number` 85, dated-April'- 30, 1946.5 "f The oscillator 'is eilec'tiv'ely' operated on-r the high-frequency side of the incoming signals so1 that the video and sound beat signal frequencies@ correspond -to-- the ldifference between the incoming.I frequenciesandtheoscilIator-frequency. `'Ihe oscillator jean, liowe\`fe1`,4 be foperated on the flow frequency vside orritf mayfforL some channels bei onr thel high frequency "side and* forj-others ony the lowirequency side, Awithsirnilar results.-

- lThe inductor --L ofI the-'oscillator is also'` shown* as switenedrfor thefdifrerent frequency channels. each selector strip carrying an inductor properlyv selected `for accurately" tuning the-A corresponding'signals. One ofthe variable-condensers Ain the* oscillator stage, condenser |19-'for example," may f' provided' with: an externally available adjust-v ment control iso that the precisee tuning adjust# ment may befinanually madeforeach channel:v4 Suchfapreciseor ne tuningi adjustmentmay be` arrangedl -for operation by'4 a separately 'rotatable sleeve?shaft?surroundingA drum 'shaft 52? and penetrating lnaar thenousingz'of- The nne--tuninl capacitor V- may be conveniently located-1in' thespacebetween -wau fzzf'and disc` 6-1 y'in-'the tunen construction of Figure l; y If desired; however; thefoscillaftor may be lprovidedlwith automatici frequency control elements connectedto respond'to the-amplified signals and to automaticallyshiftthe tuning of the oscillatorts: resonant' `circuit and compensate for any frequency.: shift of l theV -amplied signals fromsthe" i desiredjvalue.- f Suchautomatic frequency'conr trol`- circuits Aare vwell knownthe art and need no further-descriptonfhere;

.l VFor test purposes, the auxiliary lead 4|.may'be:

mserred in 'tneinpnt circuit oftneirnixer-stagesoldering process.

which may be similar to thatdescribed in U. S.

Patent No. 1,582,683. One highly effective technique is to first secure a metal foil about 1.5 mils (0.0015 inch) thick to a substantially non-conductive carrier sheet. C'opper lfoil on a polymerized phenol-formaldehyde resin sheet produces excellent results. The exposed foil surface is then coatedvvith any suitable photo-sensitive layer of the type generally employed in the photo-engraving art. The standard alkaline solution of bichromated shellac commonly .knovvn as cold top enamel makes a suitable coating. The coating is kept in subduedlight tillit is exposed to an intense image of the desired circuit, the conductive circuit portions being light and the background being dark. After a suflicient eX- posure time, the photo-sensitive coating is treated with a developer, essentially ethyl alcohol Where cold top enamel is the photosensitive coating, which softens those parts of the coatingthat have not been exposed tothe intense light. The developed coating is then Washed in running Water, which Washesv offvthe softened portions. The Washing may be assisted by some mechanical rubbing, as with a sponge, to completely detach loose portions.y I* v The sheet with the remaining portions of the' coating is then subjected to an etching Atreatment, preferably of the spray type, in which etching fluid that dissolves the metal' foil is sprayed The enamel film is generally lso thin; a fraction of amil in thickness, -as'to not interfere with the Additional details 'including specic formulations of various necessary preparations, as well as further variations of the photoetching vprocess are more completely described in `the book entitled"Modern Photoengraving by Louis Flader and J. J. Mertle, copyrighted 1948 by Modern Photoengraving Publishers, Chicago, Illinois. I t, i Channel strips may be made according to the above photo-etching .method in largev quantities.

The circuit elements ofa pluralityof stripsfmay be simultaneously prepared on a single .large sheet of carriermaterial after which thef sheet` protecting layer such as varnish, toy reduceits corrosion under atmospheric influences.

The specic features of the method of Epreparing the circuit elements .are not part r ofr the present invention. Other so called printed cir-.

cuit applying methods can also be used.*Thus for example a printing plate-or ystencilling arrangement can 'be provided ,for applying 'ecn-1 dimension.

. l0 y ductive coatings or inks at localized areas corresponding to the configuration of the desiredcir- `cuit elements. Practical methods'hitherto developed include the application through a'silk screen stencil of a paint containing a high concentration of finely divided particles that are conductive or become conductive after suitable treatment such as heating or firing. lowdered silver or decomposable silver compounds provide suitable conductive particles, and may be .suspended in or mixed with in a suitable .vehicle Isuch as a lacquer. ,Examples of such practical conductive compositions aregiven in theNational Bureau of Standards Circular 468 issued yNovember l5, 1947 and entitled Printed Circuit Techniques, although other compositions can alsobe used. Resistors are also applied as coatings in an analogous manner, suitable resistance com positions being used.` The same Bureau of Standards circular gives examples of practical resistor compositions. Other suitable circuit preparing methods are described in the National Bureau of Standards Miscellaneous Publication 192, issued November 22, 1948, and'entitled `New Advances in Printed Circuits.,

`The present invention isnot restricted to any specific forms of circuitoomponents. Thus for example the switched circuit sections may have one or more inductors in the formof standard windings or coils of Wire, or these: sections may be devoid of inductors and only-include capaci# tors or other circuit elements. Combinationsof all types of circuit elements can also be used. For attaching the contacts, such as thosev shown at I0! to ldnclusive, the strips are punched at the desired locationsand the contacts inserted and riveted in place. Before in-V sertion, the contacts may have their lcircuitengaging surfaces coated with a soldering composition, so that after heading over, the contacts may be heated to effect soldering yand establishm. ing good electrical engagement. The contact receiving sections of the circuitstratum may be enlarged to assure proper engagement regardless of some variation in thev position ofthe contacts. c. s y f .l

The dielectric or substantially non-conductive materialv forming circuit-carrying structureof the invention may be of anyconvenient composif tion. When the circuit elements are ycarried as conductive coating portions the carrier `or supe porty sheet does not contribute any appreciable losses to the circuit. Phenol-formalde.hyde resins are highly effective, and may include A powered mica filler if desired. Compositions suchA as polyethylene (highly polymerized.ethylene)4 or polystyrene (highly polymerized styrene) are also suitable. i

With the above described methods any desired; circuit segment can be easily made, no matterhovv complicated the circuit components.

According `to vmodications of -the invention', the shielding structure between adjacent circuit elements need not have` a locking engagement.r with the circuit unit but may merely provideaf reenforcing support. 'Thus by making the heads 'i2 and the necks 'F4 of'about the samewidth, the shielding projections Will still sllpPOrt their strips against displacing forces directed laterally or radially Iinwardly with respect to the drum" axis. IThese `are the directions in which forces4v` are applied to the strips by the cooperating icorliV tacts H8 during use. The vmounting slot may in this modication be of vuniform transverse 1 l The stripsmay also be arranged to carry their circuit elements on the surface which faces the drum laxis or, Amore generally, the root from which the shielding members are supported. In such can arrangement, the .shield extensions need not project beyond .the outer .surface of the strips to provide the desired Shielding. Of course, where circuit connections, such Aas those indicated at 93 in 'Figure 2, are to s pan the shield structure, the seating surfaces 69 :may be suitably cut away so astoisolate the connection from the shield.

Where locking engagement is provided between shield and strip, 4the `locking is vnot limited to being effected by strip movement `transverse to a mounting slot but may involve other movements such as rotation ofthe strip around the locking shield, after the strip is lowered over the shield. For this purpose only one locking Ashield is provided per strip and the mounting slot `portion that engages neck 14 is in the form vof a circle that opens into slot portion Y81. Additional lreenforcing kbut non-locking shield supports may be provided to further support 'the strip after it is rotated into place. In this type of construction the non-locking supports can project 'somewhat so as to require some bending of the strip to ride over these projections as it is rotated into place. When in place, the projecting portions effect the desired shielding. `The normal yieldable resiliency of 'the strips may be relied upon for permitting it to deform somewhat and carry those portions to 1be Vsupportedover the projecting shield supports where they will snap in place against the supports when they reach the proper mounting position.

While several exemplications of the invention have been indicatedand described above, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that other modifications may be made Without departing from the scope fof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is :K'

'1. An electric circuit junit yfor mounting in a signal transfer apparatus and having a plurality of electric circuit elements for cooperation in a selective signal transfer circuit held by lsaid apparatus; said unit including an integral lsupport structure on which all of said circuit elements are held, said support structure being perforated b-y 'at least one mounting slot having two differently `dimensioned intercommunicating slot portions extending in generally parallel relation in one direction across saidsupport structure, and said support Vstructure having reduced mounting ends extending out substantially 'perpendicular to said direction:

2. The combination as defined by claim l1 in which the support structure is a sheet member having a substantially non-conductive surface, and the circuit elements are electrically conductive coating portions -held`on said surface.

3. The combination as defined by claim -1 in which some of the circuit elements are held on opposite sides of said slot portions `and electrically conductive mounting structure penetrates said slot portions to provide shielding means between elements on either side of said slot.

4. An inductance containing -unit for selectable incorporation in Ia signal-transfer circuit .of .a transf-er apparatus to selectively transfer electrical signals in a predetermined frequency channel, said unit including a set of inductance elements held on an integral support structure; said structure including at least one mounting vslot 12 having two .differently-dimensioned communicating sloit portionsextending in generally parallel rel-ation in one direction `across the structure for mounting the'unit as part of said apparatus, and said .support structure having reduced mounting ends extending out substantially perpendicularly to said direction;

`5. The Ycombination as defined .by claim 4 in which theset of inductance elements includes inductance portions on opposite sides of said slot vportions .and metallic locking lugs extending through said .slot portions to provide shielding means between .adjacent circuit elements on either side of .said slot.

'6. The .combination as .defined by claim 4 in which .the support structure has an essentially non-.conductive surface and the inductance elements .are .electrically conductive coating portions ,adherently bonded tosaid surface.

In asignal .transfersystem for receiving and selectively transferring Yalternating electric signals in apredetermined frequency rang-e; mounting structureincludingfretaining elements; a plurality of signal :transfer circuit elements held on :an integral .support member; said support member ybeing perforated -by at least one slot having two differently `dimensioned interconnected slot portions; and retaining elements some of which penetrate through said slot, interlocking with said slots :to hold said support member in placer f f `8. In a signal transfer 'system for receiving and selectively transferring alternating electric signalsine. predetermined frequency range; mounting structure including retaining elements; an integra-l support member, a plurality of inductance elements held thereon; said support member be-A ing perforated -by at least one slot hav-ing two dinerently dimensioned linterconnected slot portions, and 'being interlocked vin place by said retaining -element-s' some -of which penetrate through-saidslot.

9. The combination as dened by claim 7' in which somenf the circuit elements are held on opposite sides io! vthe slot, and the retaining elements penetrating said `slot are electrically yconductive yfor shielding the oppositely held circuit elements from eachother.

1.0. The combination as defined by claim 8 in which :the support member is slotted between inductance eiements, 'and the retaining elements include'ar'ms projecting from the mounting structure and vextend'ir'rg through the support slots to provide shielding between said last-mentioned inductance elements, vand said projecting arms interlocking-with the support member portions adjacent "the slots'ior retaining the support memberin place'lfon the mounting structure.

il. The combination as defined by claim 10 in which the projecting arms 'have outer end portions `and'jnner neck poi-tions, the outer end portions :being Qarger transverse dimension than inner neck portions; the support slots have a mounting portion opening laterally into a locking portion; the'niour'iting portion being large enough to' admit the outer arm end portions, and the locking portion being large enough to receive the neck vportions of the arms :and small enough to prevent longitudinal passage of the projecting arm rend portions;r and the mounting structure includes fbias means for laterally urging the 4loci:- ing slotporti'ons -of the support structure into locking enga'gementwith the arms. V

'12. In a selector y:system for selectably transferring high frequency electric signals in any of a multiplicity of' signal channels: mounting structure including relatively iiXed and relatively movable portions; a signal-transfer circuitheld on bothof said mounting structure portions and having a multiplicity of selective networks each including a plurality of selector elements forselectively passing signals in one of the channels along the signal-transfer circuit; an integral support structure holding all of said s-elector elements for .at least one channel; the support structure being slotted and mounted on the relatively movable mounting structure portion for selecta-bly bringing the :different sets of channel selector elements into cooperating relation with a circuit section on the relatively'fixed mounting structure portion; the relatively movable mounting portion including projecting arms have outer end portions larger in transverse dimension than inner neck portions; the support 'slots having a mounting portion opening laterally into a locking portion; the mounting portion being large enough to admit the outer arm end portions, and the locking portion being large enough to receive the neck portions ofthe arms and small enough to prevent longitudinal pass-age ofthe arm end portions; and bias means Afor laterally structure into locking engagement with the arms.

13. In a selector system for selectably transferring electric signals in any of a multiplicity of television signal channels: mounting structure including relatively iixed and relatively movable portions; a signal-transfer circuit held on both of said mounting structure portions and having a multiplicity of selective networks each including a plurality of'selective inductance elements for selectively passing signals in one of the channels along the signal-transfer circuit; an integral carrier structure holding all of said selective elements for at least one channel; the carrier structure being slotted between diiierent selective elements and being mounted on the relatively movable mounting structure portion for selectably bringing the diierent sets of selective elements into cooperating relation with a circuit section on the relatively xed mounting structure portion; the relatively movable mounting portion including electrically conductive projecting arms have outer end portions larger in transverse dimension than inner neck portions; the carrier slots having a mounting portion opening laterally into a locking portion; the mounting portion being large enough to admit the outer arm end portions, and the locking portion being large enough to receive the neck portions of the arms and small enough to prevent longitudinal passage of the arm end portions; and bias means for laterally urging the locking slot portions of the carrier structure into locking engagement with the arms and interlockingly holding the electrically conductive arms in shielding relation between said different selective elements. f

14. The combination as defined by claim 8 in which the inductance elements held on the support are conductive coating stratum portions bonded to a surface of the support. y

15. An electric circuit unit for mounting in a signal transfer apparatus and having a plurality of electric circuit elements for coopera- 'tion in a selective signal transfer circuit held by said apparatus; said unit including an in-` tegral carrier structure having an electrically substantially non-conductive surface on which said circuit elements are held as electrically conelements being spaced apart and the carrier structure including a conductive locking lug extending between said spaced apart elements in engagement with a mounting shield support in said apparatus.

16. In a signal transfer system for receiving and selectively transferring alternating electric signals in a predetermined frequency range: mounting structure including electrically conductive supporting elements; a plurality of signal transfer circuit elements held on an integral carrier member; said carrier member including a conductive locking lug held by said supporting elements, and said circuit elements being distributed on opposite sides of said lug for shielding from each other bythe locking lug.

17. In a circuit selecting unit, a housing element, a selector drum rotatably journalled in said housing element, said selector drum ccmprising a plurality of discs of conducting material perpendicular to the axis of rotation of urging the locking slot portions of the support said drum, a plurality of thin insulating carrier strips distributed circumferentially on equal radii around a pair of said discs, each of said strips carrying portions of a selective signal circuit and a set of terminal contacts connected to said signal circuit portion,.a set of fixed con- -tacts held on said housing for cooperation with the contacts of one of said strips at a suitable point in the rotation path of the drum, each of said strips having a rlocking slot of two differently dimensioned intercommunicating slot portions intermediate the ends' thereof, an intermediate disc having integral radially projecting peripheral blades notched to provide an outer head and a body portion interlocking with the smaller of said slot portions to prevent radial or peripheral movement of said strips, and spring arms associated with one of said discs for longitudinally biasing said strips into an interlocked position on said blades, the larger of said slot portions being adapted to fit over the outer head of said blades for readily disengaging said strip from said drum when urged against said spring arms.

18. A circuit component selector comprising'a frame and a circuit selector drum rotatably mounted in said frame, said frame having a plurality of stationary contacts adapted to be connected to portions of electrical circuits, said selector drum comprising at least two discs in spaced parallel relation, concentric with and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said drum, a plurality of dielectric panels disposed parallel to the aiis of rotation and in spanning relation between two of said discs, each of said panels having reactance components secured thereto and contacting members adapted to selectively connect said reactance components to said first mentioned stationary contacts upon selective positioning of said drum, both ends of each of said panels and the corresponding discs being formed with interlocking members adapted to prevent respective radial or peripheral movement, an intermediate disc and an ini-,ermediate portion of each of said panels being formed with interlocking members, and resilient means associated with one of said discs to secure said panels against longitudinal movement, thereby urging said panels into interlocking position with said intermediate disc.

19. In a circuit selecting unit adapted for use as a selector in television or like apparatus, a rotatable switching drum including spaced mounting discs disposed in parallel relation and normal to the axis of the drum, and .means for releasably securing a plurality -of .component-supporting panels in an annular .series about `said axis and in spanning .relation between said discs, .said means comprising slots in both of said discs for interlocking engagement with both -ends .of each of such panels, to hold such Aend against both radial and circumferential displacement, an in-4 termediate disc, radial .lugs about the periphery of the intermediate disc, portions on said panels interlocking with said radial lugs, and retaining means for individually engaging and releasably holding `such other ends of such .panels in interlocking position with said lugs and comprising a spring disc secured to the outer face of one of said mounting discs and having individual spring arms formed integrally therewith and projecting generally radially, each .of said arms having means at the end thereof to urge one end -of one of such panels in a longitudinal direction.

20. A circuit selecting unitcomprising in combination, a vplurality of panels supporting electric circuit elements adapted for cooperation in a selective signal transfer circuit, a rotary type support structure for said unit, interlocking means on said support structure for holding said panels, and resilient means .carried by said support structure individually urging Aeach of said.

panels into interlocked position upon said support structure. n

2l. A selecting unit asdefined in claim 20 wherein said support structure comprises two end discs having slots therein and said panels having end members adapted to register snugly in said slots thereby to prevent displacement of said panels on said support.

22. A selecting unit as dened in claim 21 wherein vone of said end members is provided `16 with shoulders, and wherein saidresilient means provides a longitudinal thrust against the `opposite end member to urge the circuit elements into registry and seat said shouders against said disc.

23. A selecting unit .-as dened .in claim 20 in which there is provided, an end disc and interlocking structure in one end of said panels and said disc, and lin which said resilient means 1ongitudinally urges said panel into interlocked position with .said disc.

24. A selecting unit as defined in claim 23 in which intermediate interlocking means is provided between saidvdisc and said resilientmeans.

ANGELO G. LAZZERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of .this patent:

20 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,022,575 Beehler Apr. 9, 1912 1,579,360 Hartwig Apr. '6, 1926 25 1,830,701 Jacobsen Nov. 3, 1931 1,938,410 Van Billiard Dec. 5, 1933 1,989,620 Lee Jan. 29, 1935 2,028,587 Brustlein Jan. 21, 1936 2,078,908 Harrison Apr. 27, 1937 30 2,226,745 Schrack Dec. 31, 1940 2,343,284 Dodington Mar. 7, 1'944 2,474,988 Sargrove July 5, 1949 2,496,183 Thias Jan. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 3o Number Country Date 334,978 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1930 562,577 Great Britain July 7, 1944 

